Geneva
Semi-Final — England v Italy
The first person Leah looked for after stepping off the team bus was impossible to miss.
Elle stood behind the barriers wearing an England shirt and looking entirely too pleased with herself.
Leah stopped walking immediately.
"Oh my God."
Elle smiled.
"What?"
"You actually came."
"Leah."
Fair.
Very fair.
Of course she came.
The captain's ankle survived.
England were in another semi-final.
There was nowhere else she'd be.
And somehow that mattered more than she could explain.
Because the tournament had become difficult.
Messy.
Nothing like 2022.
This England team survived everything the hard way.
Every match felt like a fight.
Every round felt earned.
And yet—
they kept standing.
Kept surviving.
Kept believing.
The semi-final followed the same pattern.
Drama.
Late goals.
Heartbreak avoided by inches.
Another England escape act.
Another night where the Lionesses refused to die.
Afterward Leah found Elle in the family area.
Exhausted.
Sweaty.
Emotionally destroyed.
"One more."
Elle smiled softly.
"One more."
The final.
Spain.
Again.